How to Listen to your Abdomen With a Stethoscope

Self-examination with a stethoscope may be performed for a variety of reasons. While some may wish to use a stethoscope to satisfy curiosity or to learn more about their body, others may find it a useful rudimentary diagnostic tool. When examining the abdomen, it is important to know where to position the stethoscope and what to listen for. Although it is similar to listening to one's own heart, the sounds made by the intestines tend to have much less consistency and definition.

Instructions

• 1

  Position yourself in reclining position. If you sit up all the way, you will not be able to accurately place the stethoscope on your abdomen. If you lie flat, the stethoscope may not reach to your abdomen, and you will have a difficult time seeing what you are doing.

• 2

  Gently place each earpiece into your ears. Do not push them too far into the ear canal. Angle them slightly forward to improve comfort and the reception of sound.

• 3

  Place the stethoscope on the left side of your abdomen, just below your ribs. This is where your stomach is located. You should hear a gurgling sound. If you hear any swishing sounds, you should seek medical attention.

• 4

  Move the stethoscope to the right side of your abdomen, remaining just slightly beneath the ribs. You should expect to hear less gurgling on this side of your abdomen.

• 5

  Hold the stethoscope in place on your upper, right abdomen and percuss the area around it. Do this by lightly thumping it with your fingers. Each tap should sound heavy and dead, since you are percussing the liver.

• 6

  Reposition the stethoscope so that it is slightly lower and to the right of your navel. This area corresponds to your intestines. Expect to hear sounds called borborygmus, a rumbling noise caused by the movement of gas through the intestines.

• 7

  Repeat the intestinal examination on the left side of your body. It should sound very similar to what you heard on your lower, right abdomen.

• 8

  Hold the stethoscope in place anywhere slightly below your navel. Percuss the intestinal region by using your fingers to thump around the stethoscope. The thumps may sound hollow due to gas in the intestines.